Jeremiah 1:14
New International Version
The LORD said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land.

New Living Translation
“Yes,” the LORD said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.

English Standard Version
Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.

Berean Literal Bible
And YHWH said to me, “From the north evil shall break forth over all those dwelling in the land.

King James Bible
Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

New King James Version
Then the LORD said to me: “Out of the north calamity shall break forth On all the inhabitants of the land.

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north the evil will be unleashed on all the inhabitants of the land.

NASB 1995
Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.

NASB 1977
Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh said to me, “From the north the evil will break open on all the inhabitants of the land.

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north the evil [which the prophets foretold as the result of national sin] will reveal itself and spill out on all the people of the land.

Berean Annotated Bible
Then the LORD {YHWH} said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land.

American Standard Version
Then Jehovah said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said: I will pour out destruction all over the land.

English Revised Version
Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the LORD said to me, "Disaster will be poured out from the north on all those who live in the land.

Good News Translation
He said to me, "Destruction will boil over from the north on all who live in this land,

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told me, "From the north disaster will pour out on all who live in the land,

NET Bible
Then the LORD said, "This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land.

New Heart English Bible
Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the LORD said to me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.

World English Bible
Then Yahweh said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to me, “From the north the evil is loosed against all inhabitants of the land.

Berean Literal Bible
And YHWH said to me, “From the north evil shall break forth over all those dwelling in the land.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto me, 'From the north is the evil loosed against all inhabitants of the land.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to me, From the north shall evil be opened upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to me: from the north shall an evil break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to me: “From the north, an evil will spread over all the inhabitants of the earth.

New American Bible
The LORD said to me, And from the north evil will pour out over all who dwell in the land.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to me: Out of the north disaster shall break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to me: “Evil shall be opened from the North on all the dwellers of the land
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the LORD said unto me: 'Out of the north the evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to me, From the north shall flame forth evils upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Call of Jeremiah
13Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.” 14Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.…

Cross References
Then the LORD said to me,

Jeremiah 13:1
This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”

Deuteronomy 2:2
At this time the LORD said to me,

Deuteronomy 2:9
Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”
“Disaster from the north

Jeremiah 4:6
Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge! Do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, and terrible destruction.

Jeremiah 6:1
“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.

Jeremiah 6:22
This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth.
will be poured out

Jeremiah 7:20
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and the produce of the land, and it will burn and not be extinguished.

Jeremiah 42:18
For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Just as My anger and wrath were poured out on the residents of Jerusalem, so will My wrath be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and disgrace, and you will never see this place again.’

Ezekiel 7:8
Very soon I will pour out My wrath upon you and vent My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations.
on all who live in the land.

Jeremiah 12:12
Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace.

Jeremiah 25:29
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.
Ezekiel 1:4
I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,

Zechariah 6:8
Then the LORD summoned me and said, “Behold, those going to the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.”

Daniel 11:40
At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.

Revelation 16:12
And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.


Treasury of Scripture

Then the LORD said to me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.

out of

Jeremiah 4:6
Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

Jeremiah 6:1,22
O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction…

Jeremiah 10:22
Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

break forth.

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Jeremiah 1
1. The time
4. And the calling of Jeremiah
11. His prophetical visions of an almond rod and a seething pot
15. His heavy message against Judah
17. God encourages him with his promise of assistance












Then the LORD said to me
This phrase indicates direct communication from God to the prophet Jeremiah. It underscores the prophetic nature of Jeremiah's ministry, where he serves as a mouthpiece for divine revelation. This direct address is a common feature in prophetic literature, emphasizing the authority and authenticity of the message. Similar instances of God speaking directly to prophets can be found throughout the Old Testament, such as with Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8) and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:1).

Disaster from the north
The "north" refers to the direction from which invading armies historically entered Israel and Judah. In the context of Jeremiah, this is a reference to the Babylonian Empire, which would eventually conquer Judah. The north is often associated with danger and judgment in biblical texts, as seen in Isaiah 41:25 and Jeremiah 4:6. This geographical reference is significant because it aligns with historical events where Babylon, located to the northeast of Judah, became a dominant power.

will be poured out
The imagery of being "poured out" suggests an overwhelming and unstoppable force, akin to a flood. This metaphor conveys the severity and totality of the impending judgment. It reflects the idea of divine wrath being unleashed, as seen in other prophetic warnings like those in Isaiah 24:1-3 and Ezekiel 7:2-3. The use of such vivid imagery is intended to evoke a sense of urgency and seriousness about the coming judgment.

on all who live in the land
This phrase indicates the comprehensive nature of the judgment, affecting everyone in the land of Judah. It highlights the collective responsibility and consequence of the nation's sins, a common theme in prophetic literature. The judgment is not limited to a specific group but encompasses all inhabitants, similar to the judgments pronounced in other prophetic books like Zephaniah 1:2-3. This universality underscores the seriousness of turning away from God and the inevitable consequences of such actions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. His ministry was marked by warnings of impending judgment and calls for repentance.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who communicates His will and plans to Jeremiah. He is the ultimate authority and source of the prophecy.

3. The North
Refers to the direction from which disaster will come. Historically, this is often associated with Babylon, which was a major power to the north of Judah.

4. The Land
Refers to the land of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, which is the primary focus of Jeremiah's prophecies.

5. Disaster
The impending judgment that God is warning about, which will be executed through foreign invasion and conquest.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God is in control of the nations and uses them to accomplish His purposes, including judgment. Understanding this helps us trust in His ultimate plan, even when facing difficult circumstances.

The Certainty of God's Word
When God speaks, His words are sure and will come to pass. This should encourage us to take His warnings seriously and respond with obedience and repentance.

The Call to Repentance
The prophecy serves as a call to repentance for Judah. In our lives, we should be quick to turn from sin and seek God's forgiveness, knowing that He desires to restore us.

The Role of the Prophet
Jeremiah's role as a prophet was to faithfully deliver God's message, regardless of the response. We are called to be faithful in sharing God's truth, trusting Him with the results.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 1:14?

2. How does Jeremiah 1:14 illustrate God's sovereignty over nations and events?

3. What does "calamity from the north" symbolize in Jeremiah 1:14?

4. How can we discern God's warnings today, as in Jeremiah 1:14?

5. Connect Jeremiah 1:14 with other biblical warnings of impending judgment.

6. How should believers respond to divine warnings like in Jeremiah 1:14?

7. What does "calamity from the north" in Jeremiah 1:14 symbolize in historical context?

8. How does Jeremiah 1:14 relate to God's sovereignty over nations?

9. Why is the north significant in the prophecy of Jeremiah 1:14?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 1?

11. Jeremiah 47:2 – How could “waters rising in the north” metaphorically represent the Babylonian threat, and does this imagery conflict with known historical timelines of regional invasions?

12. Why is the second exodus from "the land of the north" in Jeremiah 16:14–15 rarely mentioned in historical records or archaeological findings compared to the first Exodus?

13. Who was Huldah the Prophetess in the Bible?

14. Why does Zechariah 6:8 mention God’s spirit finding rest in the north country if He is believed to be present everywhere?
What Does Jeremiah 1:14 Mean
Then the LORD said to me

The opening words remind us that Jeremiah is not crafting his own ideas; he is receiving a direct, authoritative word from the covenant-keeping God.

• Earlier in the chapter we read, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying…” (Jeremiah 1:4), underscoring the same divine source.

• Similar moments echo throughout Scripture—“The LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country…’” (Genesis 12:1) and “The Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go!’” (Acts 9:15).

• Each time, God speaks with perfect knowledge and flawless reliability, so Jeremiah can pass the message on without hesitation.


Disaster from the north

God pinpoints the direction of coming judgment: “from the north.” Historically, Babylon would invade from that quarter, even though Babylon itself lay east of Judah; armies traveled the fertile crescent and swept down from the north.

• Later prophecies confirm the same route: “Raise a banner toward Zion… for I am bringing disaster from the north” (Jeremiah 4:6).

• Isaiah also warns Philistia, “From the north comes smoke, and there is no straggler in his ranks” (Isaiah 14:31).

• The detail proves God’s foreknowledge; He is never vague about what He intends, and events in 605–586 BC unfolded exactly as foretold.


Will be poured out

The imagery shifts to liquid—unstoppable, drenching, and complete.

• God’s anger “will be poured out like fire” (Zephaniah 3:8); likewise, Ezekiel records, “I will pour out My wrath upon you” (Ezekiel 7:8).

• Pouring suggests abundance and certainty. Just as water finds every crevice, judgment will reach every corner Judah assumed was safe.

• While severe, this is righteous judgment: God had pleaded for repentance (Jeremiah 3:12), yet the nation persisted in idolatry.


On all who live in the land

No neighborhood, tribe, or social class could escape.

• The scope had already been spelled out: “I am calling down a sword on all who live in the land” (Jeremiah 25:29).

• Even the prophet’s hometown would feel it—“I will uproot the people of this land” (Jeremiah 12:14).

• God’s fairness shines through: blessing and discipline both fall impartially. The only refuge is obedience and trust in the Lord, a theme echoed when Peter writes, “It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God” (1 Peter 4:17).


summary

Jeremiah 1:14 delivers a precise, literal warning. The Lord Himself speaks; the threat comes specifically from the north; it will be poured out like an irresistible flood; and it will touch everyone residing in Judah. History records Babylon’s invasion exactly as prophesied, validating God’s inerrant Word and reminding us that His calls to repentance are never empty.

(14) Out of the north an evil.--Literally, the evil, long foretold, as in Micah 3:12, and elsewhere, and long expected.

Verse 14. - Out of the north. Previously to the battle of Carchemish, the Babylonians are only mentioned vaguely as a northern people (see Jeremiah 4:6; Jeremiah 6:1, 22; Jeremiah 10:22). Strictly speaking, they were an eastern people from the point of view of Palestine; but the caravan-road which the Chaldaean armies had to take entered Palestine at Dan (comp. Jeremiah 4:15; Jeremiah 8:16), and then proceeded southward. (On the question whether a Scythian invasion is referred to, at least conjointly with the Babylonian, see Introduction.) An evil; rather, the evil; viz. the calamity which in deepening gloom forms the burden of the prophet's discourses. Shall break forth; literally, shall open; i.e. let loose by opening (comp. the use of the same verb in Isaiah 14:17, literally, "looseth not his prisoners homewards;" and Amos 8:5, literally, "that we may open," i.e. "bring forth wheat"). There is, however, some difficulty in explaining the choice of this expression. We might indeed suppose that the caldron had a lid, and that the removal or falling off of this lid is the "opening" referred to by the phrase.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me,
אֵלָ֑י (’ê·lāy)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Disaster
הָרָעָ֔ה (hā·rā·‘āh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

from the north
מִצָּפוֹן֙ (miṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

will be poured out
תִּפָּתַ֣ח (tip·pā·ṯaḥ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

on
עַ֥ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who live
יֹשְׁבֵ֖י (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the land.
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 1:14 Then Yahweh said to me Out (Jer.)
Jeremiah 1:13
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